Our interactions with water span multiple stages of the
supply chain. In agriculture, water is essential for irrigation,
while fertilisers and pesticides present pollution risks. In
manufacturing and processing, water use is high, particularly
in plants producing "wet products", where untreated
wastewater can lead to pollution. Although water is not
directly consumed in packaging production and distribution,
these stages contribute indirectly to water use and pollution
risks, including those from packaging material production
and refrigerant leaks. Consumer use of our products also
involves water, though pollution at this stage largely depends
on local water treatment capabilities. Finally, improper
disposal of product and packaging waste at the end of
their life cycle can lead to water contamination.
Water scarcity is a critical issue where we operate in
South Africa, with approximately 74% of our facilities
located in water-stressed catchments. Water security poses
a strategic risk for our operations, closely linked to climate
change and further compounded by infrastructure collapse
in some municipalities where our manufacturing facilities
are based. In 2024, infrastructure failures led to frequent
water supply disruptions, prompting us to procure water
deliveries via tanker services at higher costs.
Management
Our approach to water management is grounded in
compliance with the National Water Act and municipal
by-laws, which set freshwater allocations and effluent
discharge limits. Climate change and water stress are
increasingly shaping our strategy as we work to understand
our risk exposure and address infrastructure challenges.
In 2024, we completed a water-risk assessment that
identified erratic supply, reliance on tanker services,
deviations from SANS 241 standards, low water pressure
and leaks as key operational risks. Aging infrastructure
remains a challenge, with underground leaks impacting
water consumption at two manufacturing units. Additionally,
heightened hygiene standards for food safety, combined
with shorter production runs, have led to increased water
usage. Addressing these issues is a priority for 2025.
We set annual goals at the start of each financial year,
informed by our 2030 target, recent performance, and
planned initiatives. Our 2030 target is a 30% reduction in
water intensity (kl/tonne) from a 2019 baseline, with an annual
target for 2024 of an 11% reduction in group-wide water
intensity. While we have improved water management across
many sites in recent years, achieving the proficiency needed
to scale our efforts strategically remains a work in progress.
Water consumption
We routinely track water usage at the site level, with daily
measurements across all sites to quickly address anomalies,
alongside weekly reporting and monthly performance reviews.
Our process optimisation department leads water-use
reduction initiatives, actively identifying and implementing
improvements across sites. Water-use intensity is highest at
our S&T, Chococam, Home, Personal Care & Baby, LAF,
Musina and Boksburg sites. Limited electronic metering and
reliance on manual processes remain key constraints to
achieving consistent process and performance
improvements.
Effluent discharge
In South Africa, manufacturing plants must legally hold
permits for effluent discharge, with higher public water-treatment
levies applied to lower-quality effluent. Our effluent
is tested by accredited labs, and our 2024 discharge levels
remain in line with local manufacturing standards. Following
this year's water-risk assessment, we have initiated a review
of our effluent treatment processes to align with the
SANS 241 standard, prioritising grey water reuse in our
operations where feasible.
We made significant strides in effluent management in
2023, and this will remain a priority in 2025. An effluent
treatment upgrade at our Ashton facility, initially planned for
2024, is now included in the 2025 capital expenditure
budget. We are also evaluating recovery technologies at
high water-use sites and will conduct further cost-benefit
analyses to explore potential solutions.
Performance
In 2024, our total freshwater consumption was 3 360 072 kl,
including tanker water trucked to site as a result of municipal
water supply challenges. We recorded a 5% decrease in
total water consumption from the previous year, and a 3,8%
increase in freshwater intensity (kl/tonne). We did not achieve
our annual target for reducing water use intensity in line
with our 2030 target.
Our 2024 water consumption
Total water consumption (kl)
2022*
3 435 886
2023*
3 538 496
2024
3 360 072
* Our 2023 and 2022 total water consumption figures have been restated this year, due to a calculation error picked up during this year's reporting cycle
Water and effluents
Our interactions with water span multiple stages of the supply chain. In agriculture, water is essential for irrigation, while fertilisers and pesticides present pollution risks. In manufacturing and processing, water use is high, particularly in plants producing "wet products", where untreated wastewater can lead to pollution. Although water is not directly consumed in packaging production and distribution, these stages contribute indirectly to water use and pollution risks, including those from packaging material production and refrigerant leaks. Consumer use of our products also involves water, though pollution at this stage largely depends on local water treatment capabilities. Finally, improper disposal of product and packaging waste at the end of their life cycle can lead to water contamination.
Water scarcity is a critical issue where we operate in South Africa, with approximately 74% of our facilities located in water-stressed catchments. Water security poses a strategic risk for our operations, closely linked to climate change and further compounded by infrastructure collapse in some municipalities where our manufacturing facilities are based. In 2024, infrastructure failures led to frequent water supply disruptions, prompting us to procure water deliveries via tanker services at higher costs.
Management
Our approach to water management is grounded in compliance with the National Water Act and municipal by-laws, which set freshwater allocations and effluent discharge limits. Climate change and water stress are increasingly shaping our strategy as we work to understand our risk exposure and address infrastructure challenges.
In 2024, we completed a water-risk assessment that identified erratic supply, reliance on tanker services, deviations from SANS 241 standards, low water pressure and leaks as key operational risks. Aging infrastructure remains a challenge, with underground leaks impacting water consumption at two manufacturing units. Additionally, heightened hygiene standards for food safety, combined with shorter production runs, have led to increased water usage. Addressing these issues is a priority for 2025.
We set annual goals at the start of each financial year, informed by our 2030 target, recent performance, and planned initiatives. Our 2030 target is a 30% reduction in water intensity (kl/tonne) from a 2019 baseline, with an annual target for 2024 of an 11% reduction in group-wide water intensity. While we have improved water management across many sites in recent years, achieving the proficiency needed to scale our efforts strategically remains a work in progress.
Water consumption
We routinely track water usage at the site level, with daily measurements across all sites to quickly address anomalies, alongside weekly reporting and monthly performance reviews. Our process optimisation department leads water-use reduction initiatives, actively identifying and implementing improvements across sites. Water-use intensity is highest at our S&T, Chococam, Home, Personal Care & Baby, LAF, Musina and Boksburg sites. Limited electronic metering and reliance on manual processes remain key constraints to achieving consistent process and performance improvements.
Effluent discharge
In South Africa, manufacturing plants must legally hold permits for effluent discharge, with higher public water-treatment levies applied to lower-quality effluent. Our effluent is tested by accredited labs, and our 2024 discharge levels remain in line with local manufacturing standards. Following this year's water-risk assessment, we have initiated a review of our effluent treatment processes to align with the SANS 241 standard, prioritising grey water reuse in our operations where feasible.
We made significant strides in effluent management in 2023, and this will remain a priority in 2025. An effluent treatment upgrade at our Ashton facility, initially planned for 2024, is now included in the 2025 capital expenditure budget. We are also evaluating recovery technologies at high water-use sites and will conduct further cost-benefit analyses to explore potential solutions.
Performance
In 2024, our total freshwater consumption was 3 360 072 kl, including tanker water trucked to site as a result of municipal water supply challenges. We recorded a 5% decrease in total water consumption from the previous year, and a 3,8% increase in freshwater intensity (kl/tonne). We did not achieve our annual target for reducing water use intensity in line with our 2030 target.
Our 2024 water consumption
* Our 2023 and 2022 total water consumption figures have been restated this year, due to a calculation error picked up during this year's reporting cycle